Suggestions for carrying small game?

jbmauser

jbmauser

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I do a fair amount of small game hunting, rabbits, upland, etc. I'm also a bit of a backpack addict and generally have a backpack set up and ready to go for the all the different outdoor activities I do. One for shed hunting, one for elk, one for muzzleloader season, one for whitetail, one for fishing........well, you get the idea. I just really like to have a pack with everything I need in it for the given activity ready to go, that way I can just grab it and be confident I have the tools, survival equipment, spare clothing, calls, etc for the conditions and game I'm after. That being said, I've decided to set up a pack specifically for small game. I have a Badlands Ascent that has a nice bow/rifle holding set up that would also work very well for strapping small game to the outside. Typically I just throw them in a plastic bag and tie it or strap it to the outside of the pack but bags tear and you inevitably get blood dripping down the pack, onto your clothes etc. I'd like to purchase some sort of waterproof durable bag that could hold several birds or rabbits and then I could either just place it in the pack or strap it to the outside and not have to worry about the mess. Just wash the bag out when I get home and keep the backpack and it's contents clean.

I have some ideas but interested in hearing what other people use.

Also, I'm aware that there are things like upland vests that have pockets dedicated to carrying small game but I'm not interested in one of those.
 
I'd get a bivvy sac from a camping supply store with the clips to close it. I bet 7L or so would work and be cheap as chips. Rolls up into nothing and super easy to attach to the outside.
 
I just use a waterproof stuff sack inside my bag. Doesn't really have to be waterproof but I feel it adds durability. A regular pack liner would be fine as well. If you wanted a bag that you could specifically hose out, there are plenty of good bags that canoeists use to carry gear. They used to just be a dry bag with straps, now there are comfy, actual backpack versions. Plus, the roll top make it super easy to clean out.
 
I also use a lightweight large drybag with the roll down tops, inside my daypack (and my daypack has a blaze orange material tied onto the back of it - hunting regs in Ontario here require the hunter's back to have a solid patch of blaze orange, and my daypack is not blaze orange and covers most of my back). They make some very light material drybag versions these days for backpackers who are counting ounces/grams.

I use one of these large drybags for grouse in my daypack. No blood or guts or feathers get through the drybag into the pack. Get a large size because its incredible how fast they fill up if you are tossing in whole critters not processed. The lightweight drybags roll down to almost nothing space-wise, so its no penalty to use the big ones.

If I decide to process the grouse in the bush as I hunt, I add some large ziplock freezer bags to the pack, so the processed grouse goes in the ziplock first to keep it clean, and the ziplock then goes into the drybag.
 
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I use a big shoulder bag/courier bag, has a couple different inner pockets and a zipper that allows it to expand. Plus outer pockets that are accessible when the outer flap is lifted, I can easily stuff 4-5 snowshoe hare’s in it once it’s unzipped and expanded. I stick the hares in a plastic bag so there’s no leaking of blood, I carry extra bags and my basic field dressing kit. Extra mags for my .22, works well for a minimal gear setup. It’s an old mec shoulder bag I got at the thrift store so I don’t really care if it gets trashed, or bloody. It gets washed in the washer if blood leaks out of the bags.
 
I either use a coat or vest with a game pouch built into the back but when temps or colors are wrong for wearing them I carry a small camo cooler bag. Easy to wash out and blood don't stain it. The one I have will hold 12 cans of coke or 6x 710 coke bottles. Easily takes 5 squirrels or grouse. Rabbits likely would not fit a limit in it but it's cheap effective and doubles as a cooler. Also has mesh pockets for bottles and extra zippered pockets for various gear
 
I have a great vest for uplands but sling a small MEC duffle when hunting rabbits. I don't recall the model name but it was an inexpensive, single layer corder so it is easy to throw in a washing machine.
 
A backpack is my least favourite way of carrying small game since I continue to hunt while carrying them, and a pack interferes with shooting at fast moving small game. I prefer a Filson strap vest. It can be worn over any clothing, adjustable for the jacket underneath, is durable, liquid proof and looks OK.
 
Butcherbill said:
I use a big shoulder bag/courier bag, has a couple different inner pockets and a zipper that allows it to expand. Plus outer pockets that are accessible when the outer flap is lifted, I can easily stuff 4-5 snowshoe hare’s in it once it’s unzipped and expanded. I stick the hares in a plastic bag so there’s no leaking of blood, I carry extra bags and my basic field dressing kit. Extra mags for my .22, works well for a minimal gear setup. It’s an old mec shoulder bag I got at the thrift store so I don’t really care if it gets trashed, or bloody. It gets washed in the washer if blood leaks out of the bags.
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My dad use to use a new paper carrier's bag with his .410 when bird or rabbit hunting. Heck we use to steal a garbage box on our way to catfish fishing as a teenagers... We'd always bring em back though LOL! Whatever the o.p. uses, I'd keep it cheap for dead animals. Spend that extra money on a better knife or plastic bag vacuum sealer. Just my 2 cents...
 
I have an upland game bird vest which has a very large rear pouch, and large pockets on the side. Made of large gauge canvas material with blaze orange markings..........made by Columbia.
 
Yeah I understand that there are vests but I have zero interest in one. I'm often hunting way off grid and could spend an entire day out in the bush. I need to have a backpack for food, water, clothes etc. I've never found a backpack to interfere with fast shooting but maybe I'm just so used to wearing one it's just normal to me. I think a good dry bag will be the way to go. Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Here pics of what I use, it’s got big pockets on the outside front and back. Plus two inside, lift the front cover and lots of little pockets for spare .22 mags or misc stuff. Unzip the bottom and it expands pretty far, I’ve fit 4 hares in it possibly 5. It starts to get heavy with 4 in it, grouse is less weight obviously.

It used to be more waterproof but whatever the coating it once had has started to fall off so hares go in a plastic bag. The thing I like about a shoulder bag is it’s easy to wear along with a small daypack if I decide to bring one along with food/water or an extra layer in the spring when there’s still snow on the ground.

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I just use simple canvas/cotton shoulder bags .... tote bags ...
They are cheap .... $2 - $3 .... so I have many of them.
They fold into a small package .... and they don't weight much ....

I always have one or two in my hunting haversack or backpack.

And they can be tossed in the washer and dryer .... and clean up nicely.



https:// totebagfactory.com/collections/cheap-canvas-messenger-bags-wholesale/products/wholesale-small-messenger-bag-with-long-straps?variant=634046185

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jbmauser said:
Thanks that looks interesting. I did see something similar in my searching. Definitely a good option.
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It works well, hoytcanon recommend this style to me a few year back when I asked the same question. I got tired of carrying bloody headshot hares around and didn’t want a game vest potentially leaking on me either.
 
I used a chitty school backpack that was on sale, and some grocery bags.

Or, just stuck them in whatever outside pocket was free. Rabbits got gutted on site. Grouse got stood on the wings, and pulled. Then a bag, then into that outer (aka:cold) pocket.

I was accused of being a serial killer, among the varying hares out by Cold Lake! One of the nicest names Brutus ever called me! :)
 
Years ago I bought a camo, blood-proof shoulder bag from CT, I liked it so much I went back and bought a second bag... I have been using them for years and they look new, even though they see alot of use.
 
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